Prices of onions make them disappear from people's platter

The increase in the prices of onion has not only brought tears in the people's eyes but has also disappeared from their menu.

An onion shop at Indore Mandi on Sunday. Onion prices have gone up more than threefold in the past fortnight. (Shankar Mourya/HT)

The increase in the prices of onion has not only brought tears in the people's eyes but has also disappeared from their menu.

From `19 per kilogram in July, prices of onions have soared to `70-75 per kg.The wholesale prices of onion have come down to `64 per kg to `50, but retail stores continue to fleece the common people.

Sunita Rani, a resident of Bathinda, said instead of using onions in daily dishes, they have started making ketchup of onion, garlic and chillies, which can be used for 3-4 days, as it is not unaffordable to purchase half a kg of onion at `40 on daily basis. "Moreover, the salads are limited to cucumber only," she added.

Another resident Gurjant Singh said he had started to buy onions in a small quantity since the prices went up."I usually bought 5-10 kg of onion per month but now I have reduced it to half a kg."

Meanwhile, former municipal councillor and social activist Vijay Kumar staged a symbolic protest against the hike in onion prices at Paras Ram Nagar Chowk on Tuesday.Vijay Kumar said, "Where are the acche din? The Modi government has not kept up his promise to control the inflation."

Bhim Chand Bajaj, president of fruits and vegetables commission agents' society said the prices soared as heavy rain in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh had spoiled the crop produce.

"Presently, the stock of onion from Karnataka has started reaching the retail markets across the state, Maharashtra onion is also available in the market," he said.

He said after a sudden dip in the wholesale prices, prices may come down in the coming days.